CPS PROBE HAS CURIE IN LIMBO
Curie spent all day Monday waiting to learn whether the Chicago Public Schools’ investigation into the team’s possible use of ineligible players had come to any conclusion. No decision was announced, so Condors coach Mike Oliver and his players still are waiting to hear if they will remain city champions.
CPS spent the day on a fact-finding mission. While the investigation initially was thought to be limited to the eligibility of players in the city title game Friday against Young, it now appears CPS is looking into whether multiple Curie players were ineligible for the entire season.
‘‘The probe into Curie is still underway,’’ CPS spokeswoman Keiana Barrett wrote in a statement Monday. ‘‘We treat eligibility very seriously.’’
Illinois High School Association officials also spent the day waiting to hear from CPS.
‘‘The Chicago Public Schools’ athletic administration has been in touch with the IHSA regarding its investigation into Curie,’’ assistant executive director Matt Troha said. ‘‘We are awaiting the results of that investigation and will continue to work in conjunction with CPS officials moving forward.’’
The IHSA must decide whether the Condors are eligible to compete in the Class 4A state tournament, which begins Monday. Curie’s first game would be against Argo or DuSable next Tuesday at King. Curie is the No. 1 seed in the Marist Sectional, the top-ranked team in the Super 25 and the No. 2 team in USA Today’s national rankings.
In a typical season, late February is a time for fans to fill out brackets and make playoff predictions. That’s impossible to do now. Bogan, Hyde Park and Uplift were booted from the Class 3A state playoffs Monday after breaking IHSA rules. That will result in the Vocational and Antioch sectionals being reseeded.
The Class 4A bracket is also uncertain, with the eligibility of Curie and Homewood-Flossmoor still to be decided.